A research team fae da University o Dundee is investigatin Cryptosporidium—a waaterborne parasite dat resists common hame cleanin products an poses serious risks tae baith public halth an da fairmin industry. Dr Mattie Christine Pawlowic, a Principal Investigator an Sir Henry Dale Fellow at da university’s School o Life Sciences, is leadin da study wi support fae a Wellcome Career Development Award.

Cryptosporidium is protected by a teuch shell dat resists mony staundart disinfection methods. Dr Pawlowic explained, “Cryptosporidium is bieldit by a shell, but we ken verra little aboot hoo it is sae protective.” Accordin tae her, da parasite his a mechanism similar tae a sporan wi a zipper-like structure. “It uses a microscopic structure dat acts like a zipper. Whan da zipper appens, da parasites ‘hatch’ oot o da shell. In wir new research project, we are warkin tae unnerstaund hoo da parasites appen dat sporan at da richt time an in da richt conditions,” she said. Dr Pawlowic added, “Cleanin products in supermarkets claim tae kill 99.9% o germs, Cryptosporidium is da 0.1% dey cannae touch.”

Da parasite poses a pairticular challenge because staundart watter treatment methods sic as chlorination cannae eradicate it. Instead, costly interventions like boilin, ultraviolet licht, or specialized filtration systems are required tae ensure its removal fae watter supplies. Da parasite can cause chronic diarrhoea, a condition dat can be fatal—especially in bairns, auld fowk, an immunocompromised individuals. Da Warld Halth Organisation has identified diarrhoea as da third-leidin cause o daith in bairns unner 60 month.

In addition tae affectin human halth, Cryptosporidium threitens da weelfare o da UK fairmin industry. Infections in livestock, aften transmitted via contact wi infected animals or contaminated watter, can result in gey sair economic losses. A brakthrou annoonced last year by Dr Pawlowic’s team, in collaboration wi da Drug Discovery Unit an researchers fae da University o Vermont, identified twa drug molecules dat yielded promisin results in controllin da infection in calves. Hooaniver, forder research is needed afore dis findins can bring effective, widespreid solutions.

“Wi ootbreaks, da ramifications for fowk are significant an it becomes heidline news,” Dr Pawlowic noted. “Similarly, da halth o cattle an da economic impact o dat is vital tae da UK. We canna be complacent aboot a parasite dat is sae prevalent in dis kintra, sae forder research is crucial if we are tae protect wir public an wir fairmers.”

Da University o Dundee continues tae lead in cryptosporidiosis research, strivin tae develop new medicines an deepen scientific unnerstaundin o da parasite’s survival mechanisms. Mair information aboot da research project is available on da university wabsite.